Truss structure



July 3l, 1956 w. F. BARCH 2,756,745

TRUSS STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 6, 1952 United States Patent O TRUSS STRUCTURE Walter F. Barch, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application December 6, 1952, Serial No. 324,516

Claims. (Cl. 128--104) This invention relates to a truss. As is well known, trusses are worn by persons having a hernia.

It is an object of this invention to provide a truss of very simple construction and one having various adjustments which can be easily made by the wearer by bending forward and loosening or tightening several screws.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a truss which encircles the waist of the wearer and which is provided with one or two front pads which can be moved to different positions on said band by the wearer when the truss is being worn, said band having means for varying the effective length or girth thereof, which means can also be easily operated by the wearer while the truss is being worn.

Itis also an object of the invention to provide a truss comprising a resilient band of thin material, such as metal, bent to extend about the body of the wearer, with very simple and efficient means for varying the effective length or girth of the band, and very simple and efficient means for varying the position of one or more pads carried on said band.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the band;

Fig. 2 is a View in front elevation of a portion of the band shown on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a washer used;

Fig. 6 is a partial view in rear elevation showing a modified structure; and

Fig. 7 for the most part is a vertical section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6, as indicated by the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, a truss is shown comprising a band 10. Band 10 is made of resilient material of small thickness, such as steel or other suitable material. Said band 10 is bent so as to extend about the body of the wearer and at one end has secured thereto a member 11. Member 11 has parallel sides which are rather close together and has a channel 11a extending longitudinally therethrough. While this could be variously made, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated it is shown as in the form of a flattened ellipse or of oblong form. Member 11 has projecting from its outer side adjacent one end thereof a lug 11b. The channel 11a is constructed and arranged to receive the other end portion of band 10, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. A screw 12 is threaded into the lug 11b, said screw having a head 12a shown as having a knurled periphery. The inner end of screw 12 engages the side of the movable end portion of band 10.

A member 14 is provided which is formed of a thin 2,756,745 Patented July 31, 1956 Nice sheet'of material reversely bent at its mid-portion into substantial U-shape with the sides thereof in fairly close proximity. Member 14 has rounded end portions, as shown in Fig. 2, which are in transverse alignment. A screw 15 is provided with extends through openings in both sides of member 14, said screw having a collar 15a which engages the outer side of member 14. Screw 15 has a head 15b shown as having a knurled periphery. A portion of reduced diameter extends between collar 15a and head 15b. A washer 16 is disposed on screw 15 and engages the inner side of member 14. Washer 16 is of small thickness and has a multiplicity of small teeth 16a on its periphery. Washer 16 also has small projections 16b at the side engaging member 14. A nut 18 is threaded on screw 15 and engages washer 16. Member 14 has an outwardly projecting lug or tab 14a at one end forming a finger piece. The inner threaded end of screw 15 is threaded into a member 17 having a shank portion 17a extending at right angles to the axis of screw 15. A pad 20 has a covering 20a of some suitable flexible material, such as soft leather, which is held `against one side of said pad by a plate 21. A second plate 22 overlies plate 21 and said plates are held together and secured to said pad by a plurality of circumferentially spaced screws 24 threaded into pad 20. Plate 22 is provided with a plurality of arcuate slots 22b through which the screws 24 pass. With this construction pad 20 and plate 21 can be rotated relatively to plate 22. Plate 22 has an outwardly projecting lug 22a which is bored to receive the shank 17a of member 17.

. Member 17 has a shoulder formed by shank 17a which engages one side of lug 22a, and shank 17a is threaded to receive a nut 25 which engages the other side of lug 22a. The heads of screws 12, 15 and 25 will be provided with diametrical grooves on their outer sides and these Will be made of a width so as to receive the edge portion of a dime or ten cent coin.

A pair of rear pads 26 are preferably provided and these are secured to said band to be moved to different positions thereon. Each pad 26 has a central aperture therethrough and a screw 27 extends through said aperture, said screw having a head countersunk into said pad. Band 10 has a pair of spaced slots 10b extending therethrough and longitudinally thereof. The screws 27 respectively pass through the slots 10bv and are threaded into a nut 31 at the outer side of band 10. It will be seen that the pads 26 can thus be clamped into position by the screws 27 and that said pads can be moved in said slots 10b when the screws 27 are loosened. Screws 27 are preferably above the center of disks 36 so that the major portion of said disks is below band 10. This gives a lifting lor supporting effect to said pads.

In operation, the band 10 can be quickly placed in position by the operator by having the ends free and springing the band open and moving it into position. The free end of the band is then moved into the channel 11a to get the desired tightness or pressure of the band upon the wearer. Screw 12 will then be turned and the end thereof will press the free end of band 10 against the end secured to member 11 and the ends of the band are thus held in fixed relation. Should it be desired to loosen screw 12 at some time and the wearer should not have a screw driver, he can use a ten cent piece to turn screw 12. The wearer can turn screw 15 and member 14 can then be readily moved longitudinally of band 10 by taking hold of the linger piece 14a. Pad 20 will move with member 14a and the pad can thus be easily and quickly moved to and held in different positions to suit the comfort of the wearer. One or two of the members 14 and pads 20 will be used. As is well known, two pads are used when the wearer has two hernias. Screw 15 will be tightened and this will clamp the band bein the slots 22h. This is an old feature in the art.

tween the sides of member 14 so that the member 14 is securely held in place. The pad 20 can also be rotated about the axis of screw 15, the screws 24 then moving Pads of different shape are sometimes used and it is desirable to rotate the pad into different positions. The portions 16b on the washer 16 bite into the side of member 14 and assist in the clamping operation.

In Figs. 6 and 7, a modified structure is shown for supporting and moving the front pads. As shown in said gures, a pad 34 is provided, the same having the usual yielding cushion portion 34a, a plate 34h at the rear of said cushion portion and a plate 34C overlying the edge portion of plate 34h and engaging the cover 34d of the cushion portion 34a. Plate 34C will be secured to plate 34h in any suitable manner, as by screws. Plate 3411 has outturned lugs 34e thereon and has a central transverse slot 34j therein. A nut 35 is disposed between plates 34h and 34C. Clamping washers 36 are disposed at each side of the band 10 and the outer one of these is engaged by the head 38a of a screw 33 having a threaded shank which extends through the washers 36 and slot 34j and is threaded into the nut 35. Band 10 is provided with spaced slots ltla and the shank of screw 38 extends through one of said slots. Band 10 will be provided with the spaced slots la at either side of the channel member 11 so that the band can carry two pads if necessary.

In operation, when the pad 34 is to be moved, the wearer can readily reach and turn screw 38 to release the members 36 and band 10 so that the pad with screw 33 can be moved longitudinally of the slots 10a to bring the pad into the desired position. With a plurality of slots 10a a wide range of locations is possible. The screw 38 can be tightened to clamp the pad in fixed position and said screw may be tightened or loosened if necessary by a ten cent coin placed in the slot in the head of said screw. Pad 34 can be rotated about the axis of screw 38 to different positions if this is desired.

From the above description it will be seen that l have produced an exceedingly simple and yet very efficient structure of truss. The truss can be manipulated and adjusted to have the desired fit and comfort entirely by the wearer. The truss can be easily and quickly placed on his body and he merely has to manipulate the screws 12, 15 or 38 to get the desired adjustment of the pads. The structure is very simple and the truss is made from material which is very readily secured. The rear pads 26 do not need the care of adjustment required by the front pads and these can be properly positioned before the band is placed about the body of the wearer.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A truss comprising a resilient band of small thickness, the same being bent to form a loop adapted to surround the body of the wearer, said band having a slot extending longitudinally thereof, a pad at the inner side of said band having a plate at its outer side, a threaded member at the outer side of said pad, second members at either side of said band and a screw extending through said slot and second members and threaded into said threaded member for clamping said band between said second members, said screw having a head at its outer portion easily accessible to the wearer when wearing said truss whereby said wearer can loosen said screw to unclamp said band and move said pad and screw longitudinally of said slot.

2. A truss comprising a resilient band of small thickness, the same being bent to form a loop adapted to surround the body of the wearer, said band having a slot extending longitudinally thereof, a pad at the inner side of said band, a plate at the outer side of said'pad, a second plate engaging said plate but spaced therefrom at its central portion and having a second slot therethrough, a nut disposed between said plates having its opening alined with said second slot, clamping means for said band including members at each side of said band, a screw extending throughboth of said slots and said members and threaded into said nut for clamping said band between said members and holding said pad in fixed position thereon, said screw having a head easily accessible to the wearer when wearing said truss whereby said wearer can loosen said screw and move the same and said pad longitudinally of said band.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2, said second slot extending substantially at right angles to said first mentioned slot.

4. A truss comprising a resilient band of small thickness bent to form a loop adapted to surround the body of the wearer, means for increasing and decreasing the size of said loop, clamping means at opposite sides of said band, a screw extending through said means, a pad disposed at the inner side of said band carrying a threaded member at its outer side, said screw being screwed into Said threaded member for holding said pad in position on said band between said clamping means and for clamping said band.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4, said band having a slot extending longitudinally thereof through which said screw passes.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 436,721 McCandliss Sept. 16, 1890 517,639 Brickner et al Apr. 3, 1894 574,467 Ware etal Jan. 5, 1897 FOREIGN PATENTS 15,212 Great Britain 1893 

